Remote Key
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
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Remote Key
I was wondering if you can change out the entire shell of the remote key to a new one. I know you can swap out the battery. Plus I know you can remove the flip key.
So how does the RFID chip / immobilizer work? Is that an easy swap or am I just opening up a can of worms.
My current case is rather messed up from previous car owner so I would like a nice new one if possible w/ little effort.
So how does the RFID chip / immobilizer work? Is that an easy swap or am I just opening up a can of worms.
My current case is rather messed up from previous car owner so I would like a nice new one if possible w/ little effort.
Last edited by pjlcinci; Oct 6, 2013 at 06:21 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 51
What's the exact model and in what country are you? Most if not all US B5's don't have an immobilizer. (But m/y 2000+ do in most other countries.) Take a look at this page:
VW immobilizer technical information and problem troubleshooting
If your cluster doesn't display the symbol shown on that page when you start the car then you don't have an immobilizer chip. (I have a 2001 A4 in the US and have no immobilizer.)
If you don't have an immobilizer it's much easier to do the swap. Having done it with several key shells I can offer these a few observations:
- There are two potential sizes of batteries. Make sure that you buy a replacement shell with the matching battery holder size. Both sizes are available on ebay for ~$10 and there are lots of pictures to match against. You have to be patient with shipping since most come from China.
- The circuit board is held into the shell by some brass pins that are seemingly impossible to remove. After searching the net far and wide I finally found the trick on some other forums: use a soldering iron and hold it against the pins for a few seconds. The pins will heat up the plastic and magically rise up. (If you don't have a soldering iron then borrow one.) You can use the soldering iron to push them back into the new shell as well.
- One of the times I did a replacement, the new shell wouldn't quite clamp down when I put the old key in, the old key was just slightly too thick. Like, less than a millimeter but just enough to not let the shell clamp completely. I went to a key guy and he helped me get the old key in by shaving the metal a bit with his metalworking tools. I paid him $10 for it, but it was cheaper than laser cutting the new blank which he said would be $50.
- Another time I did a replacement, the top half of the old shell refused to crack open to let out the old key. The key had to be cut out by a dremel.
In short: replacing shells can take more time than you might think. In the best case it's a pretty quick job, but it can drag out if you hit a few snags. In the end you save about $30-$40 compared to getting a blank with the electronics (which go for about $40-$50 on ebay) plus an additional $50 if you don't have to cut the new key.
VW immobilizer technical information and problem troubleshooting
If your cluster doesn't display the symbol shown on that page when you start the car then you don't have an immobilizer chip. (I have a 2001 A4 in the US and have no immobilizer.)
If you don't have an immobilizer it's much easier to do the swap. Having done it with several key shells I can offer these a few observations:
- There are two potential sizes of batteries. Make sure that you buy a replacement shell with the matching battery holder size. Both sizes are available on ebay for ~$10 and there are lots of pictures to match against. You have to be patient with shipping since most come from China.
- The circuit board is held into the shell by some brass pins that are seemingly impossible to remove. After searching the net far and wide I finally found the trick on some other forums: use a soldering iron and hold it against the pins for a few seconds. The pins will heat up the plastic and magically rise up. (If you don't have a soldering iron then borrow one.) You can use the soldering iron to push them back into the new shell as well.
- One of the times I did a replacement, the new shell wouldn't quite clamp down when I put the old key in, the old key was just slightly too thick. Like, less than a millimeter but just enough to not let the shell clamp completely. I went to a key guy and he helped me get the old key in by shaving the metal a bit with his metalworking tools. I paid him $10 for it, but it was cheaper than laser cutting the new blank which he said would be $50.
- Another time I did a replacement, the top half of the old shell refused to crack open to let out the old key. The key had to be cut out by a dremel.
In short: replacing shells can take more time than you might think. In the best case it's a pretty quick job, but it can drag out if you hit a few snags. In the end you save about $30-$40 compared to getting a blank with the electronics (which go for about $40-$50 on ebay) plus an additional $50 if you don't have to cut the new key.
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